OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Philadelphia, PA 19146

Philadelphia: median income $103,059, home value $461,000, $340/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21230 88%90$91,842$330,100$234 cheaper homes ($131K less)
Chicago, IL 60647 83%667$107,060$586,200$403 pricier homes ($125K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Chicago, IL 60613 81%665$95,572$390,800$337 cheaper homes ($70K less) · 7 min longer commute · more renters
Washington, DC 20017 80%119$106,300$702,600$370 pricier homes ($242K more) · smaller
Chicago, IL 60622 80%666$136,277$638,100$414 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($177K more)
Washington, DC 20011 79%120$110,309$723,900$379 pricier homes ($263K more) · larger · older residents
Chicago, IL 60618 79%668$106,384$562,700$389 pricier homes ($102K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Washington, DC 20010 77%121$114,126$886,600$471 pricier homes ($426K more)
Chicago, IL 60625 77%668$85,703$401,900$333 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Washington, DC 20002 75%120$120,337$826,400$494 pricier homes ($365K more) · larger · more renters
Evanston, IL 60202 75%668$98,989$397,600$300 cheaper homes ($63K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Watertown, MA 02472 74%268$126,336$784,600$507 pricier homes ($324K more) · older residents
Baltimore, MD 21231 74%87$85,254$350,100$226 cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller · more renters
Waltham, MA 02453 73%265$115,366$705,100$473 pricier homes ($244K more) · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21224 73%86$89,017$295,200$207 cheaper homes ($166K less)
Arlington, VA 22206 73%127$140,877$586,000$431 higher income ($38K more) · pricier homes ($125K more) · smaller
Evanston, IL 60201 73%668$90,545$590,700$370 pricier homes ($130K more) · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21211 72%88$82,828$284,500$219 cheaper homes ($177K less) · smaller
Salem, MA 01970 71%285$85,041$542,900$418 pricier homes ($82K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Highland Park, NJ 08904 70%56$104,694$471,700$342 smaller · more single-family homes · newer homes
Arlington, VA 22204 70%127$107,941$688,000$418 pricier homes ($227K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
West Hartford, CT 06119 69%180$99,688$378,400$281 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Providence, RI 02906 68%237$103,050$638,600$395 pricier homes ($178K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Alexandria, VA 22302 68%128$123,539$631,100$441 pricier homes ($170K more) · smaller · older residents
Chicago, IL 60657 68%665$110,939$537,800$428 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.